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Female long-distance world record-holder the athlete has been banned for 36 months after the Kenyan acknowledged doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in July following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that test - including her world record time of 2:09:56 in Chicago in 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had sought a 48-month suspension but the 31-year-old penalty was lowered to three years because she admitted to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the AIU will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's phone which it found suggest "strong grounds that her failed test may have been deliberate" - including communications from as early as the year 2022.

"The case concerning the positive test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the suspicious material found on the runner's phone to ascertain if any other violations have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the integrity body, the marathoner, the initial female to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an explanation for the failed test.

While the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in samples, Chepngetich's test showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic under the minimal reporting level were also identified in a test collected from the runner 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was presented with the previously mentioned suspicious evidence obtained from her phone. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the AIU.

Chepngetich altered her story on July 31, stating that she had taken her domestic worker's medication - labeled as being HCTZ - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the failed test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the context of the athletics' anti-doping rules, such "carelessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after the runner admitted the doping breaches inside the 20 days required.

The three-year ban started on April 19 - when Chepngetich agreed to a temporary ban - with the competitor's results, honors, championships, appearance and earnings since 14 March lost.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

"Although disappointing for those who had faith in this athlete, this is how the system is supposed to work."

"Marathon organizers should be praised for jointly supporting doping prevention capable of revealing doping violations performed by top competitors in their events."